Locomotive-feed-water-heating system



June 22, 1926. 1,589,756

M. HARD LOCOMOTIVE FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed August 19. 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H4 coL/y f/fm'o fill ATTORNEYS Jung 22,1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed August 19. 1924 [.1 R a a m o R 2' E T H N as R\N E I E o Iii V q T "9 w N m I c Q w a M v i mm B M. r Q i fim c c x\\ RN. m ww um $4! WV WW km o% Patented June 2 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES MALCOLM PTENT OFFICE.

HARD, OF FLUSI-IING, NEW" YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUPERHEATER GOM- PANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOCOIVIOTIVE-FFED-WATER-HEATING SYSTEM.

Application filed August 19, 1924. Serial No. 732,907.

This invention relates to locomotive feed water heating systems in whichthe feed water is heated by the exhaust steam from the locomotive inthat type of heating system known as the closed type. In such systems,provision must be made to dispose of the condensate formed in the heaterby the condensing of the exhaust steam. This condensate may be returnedto the boiler by leading it into the suction line of the feed waterpump, whichforms a part of these systems; or it may be discharged to thetrack, or it may be returned to the tender. While the return of thecondensate to the boiler is preferable from the standpoint of economicaloperation, such return is objectionable under certain conditions, as forexample, when the engine is working hard with a long cutoff andparticularly when the pump at the same time is delivering water to theboiler at a slow rate. Under these conditions, due to the hightemperature of the feed water, steam will be formed in the suction lineof the pump and will interfere with the proper functioning thereof. The

discharge of the condensate to the track is not always practicable incertain locations, as for example, in stations.

It is the principal object ofthis invention to provide a new andimproved construction in feed water systems of the type hereinbeforereferred to by means of which the condensate may be selectively directedeither to the tracks, or to the suction line of the pump to mingle withthe feed water from the tender. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedconstruction of a duplex valve particularly adapted for use with a feedwater heating system of the type hereinbefore set forth.

These and further objects will be apparent to those skilled in the artto which my invention appertains from the following more detaileddescription and from the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof andwherein an example of the invention is shown without defining itslimits.

As shown in the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing, somewhatdiagrammatically, an application of my invention to a locomotive; thelocomotive parts being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional detail of the duplex valve taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3;Fig. 3 is a section' on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4C is a section onthe line 44 of Fig 3, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the connectionof the duplex valve to the suction line of the pump.

As shown in Fig. 1 the feed water heater A is supplied with exhauststeam through the pipe B, connected with the exhaust line at anysuitable point. The feed water is drawn from the tender 0 by the pump Dthrough the suction pipe E and is delivered to the heater A by the pipeF. After pass ing through the heater the water flows to the boilerthrough the pipe G which is provided with the usual check valve. Thecondensate formed in the feed water heater by the cooling of the exhauststeam is drained off through the pipe H. The above arrangement is theusual equipment for this type of feed water heating system and hasmerely been shown diagrammatically.

Suitably connected with the pipe H is a duplex valve K, the casing (seeFigs. 2 to 4) of which is provided with inlet 11 which furnishescommunication between the trap and a distributing chamber 12 formed insaid valve casing. A pair of Valves 13, 1 1 which are mounted withinsaid distributing chamber are adapted to be forced into contact with thevalve seats 15 and 16, by mechanism to be hereinafter described, to shutoff communication between the chamber 12 and either of the outlets 17and 18 respectively. The outlet 17 has connected thereto a pipe 19terminating in a jet nozzle 19, which projects into the suction line Eof the pump, and the outlet 18 has connected there to a conduit 20 whichleads to the track.

' Preferably each of the valves 13 and 1a is formed integral with andbetween the ends of a guide rod 21. each guide rod 21 passes slidablythrough a bearing 22 formed in a web 23 preferably cast integral withthe valve casing 10, while the upper end of each valve rod is slidablyreceived within a central bore of a bonnet 24 formed upon a cap 25,removably secured by its reduced screw threaded end 26 in the valveeasing. Each valve rod is provided between its ends with a pair ofspaced annular shoulders or flanges 27 with which the rounded ends 28 ofthe yoke arms of a tumbler lever 29 engage for actuating the The lowerend of' valves. The tumbler lever 29 is provided with a centralboss 30having a central aperture of rectangular cross section which is fittedupon a similarly shaped portion of a tumbler shaft 31. The tumbler shaft31 is rotatably mounted in .suitablevbearings 33 and 34iformedrespectively in a removable cap 35 and the valve casing 10.

As the outlet passage 17 of the duplex valve is connected to the pipe 19which leads to the pipe E leading from the tender, while the passage 18has connected thereto the pipe 20 leading to the track, it will beunderstood that means must be provided for preventing both valves 13, .11 from remainin unseated at the same time for if both valves weretoremain open, water from the tender would drain through the duplex valveand flow out to the track. A suitable construction for insuring that.one of the valves 13, 14 will always be seated is as follows:

One end of thetumbler shaft 31 projects through the valve casing 10 andterminates in a .wing portion 36 which has at its extremities apair oflater-a ly projecting lugs 37. Mounted in asuitable'bearing 38 providedin a housing 39 and in axial ali nment with .thetumbler shaft 31 is anactuating shaft 40 one end of whichprojects outwardly of the housing 39through a stuffing box a1 and has secured thereto a lever 12. The lever12 has connected thereto an actuating rod 43 which extends to anyconveniently accessible point within the locomotive cab. The otherorinner end of the shaft 40 has formed integral therewith a crank armi4: which is located within the housing 39 between the lugs 3'? of thewing portion 36 of shaft'31. The outer end of crank arm 44 is pivotallysecured asbyvthe pin 15 within the yoke end as of a spring rod 47. Thelower cylindrical end of said spring rod is slidably received within abearing 18 supported for oscillationby the-trunnions 49, mounted within.the bearings and 51 formed respectively in the housing 39 and aremovable cap 52. A coiled spring 53 which surrounds the spring rod 45has its upper and lower ends respectively in contact with the shoulderformed by the upper yoked end of the springrod and the upper face of thebearing 48.

The manner of operation is as follows:

.Under normal operatingconditions the duplex valveis adjusted so thatthecondensate from the feed water heater is led to the suction lineEithrough the outlet.17 and pipe 19, the valveparts at this time beingin tions shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This movement of the shaft 40 will movethe crank arm 1 1 out of contact with the left hand lug 3'? of the wingportion 36 of tumbler shaft 31 and into contact with the right hand.lug.37, thus causing thetumble-r shaft 31 to be rotated in acounter-cloclnvise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, or clockwise as viewedin Fig. 2, to move the valve 14 off its seat 16 and the valve 13 towardsits seat 15.

It will be noted that the lugs 37 are so spaced fromeach other that thecrank arm does not contact with the right hand lug 37 until after thepivotal connection of the crankarm and spring rod 47 has passed its deadcenter, therefore when the crank arm engages either ilug 37 the fullforce of the spring 53 is exerted upon the tumbler shaft and itsassociated parts so as to insure the movement thereof'to their extrcinepositions, in which either the valve 13 or the valve 14 is held seatedfirmly upon its respective seat. It will'bealso noted that the caps 25,being removable, permit ready access to the valve in addition to servingas guides for the valve rod 21. It will further be notet that theactuating shaft 40 with the parts 4:4: and 47, etc connected therewithare mounted entirely within the housing 39 and form therewith an unitaryassembly which can be detached from the valve casing 10 and the partsmounted therein by removing the bolts 55 thusproviding a constructionwhich enables the parts to be assembled easily or to be taken apartreadily for inspection or repairs.

it is to he understood that while the lost motion connection formed bythe crank arm 4: 1- of shaft 10 and wing portion 36 of shaft 31 betweenthe actuating rod 43 and the valves 13 and 1% as shown is a satisfactoryembodiment of my invention, the principles herein disclosed are notlimited to the speciiic details of said connection, or the manner ofmounting the valves, but that various changes and modifications may beresorted to without departing from the spirit ofany invention.

1 claim:

1. in a locomotive feed water heating system, a feed water heater, meansfor supplying steam to said heater, .a drainlinefor withdrawingcondensate from said heater, a source of feed water, a pump and feedlinefor conducting feed water from said source to said heater, a dischargeline, a three-Way fitting connecting said drain linewith said dischargeline and with said feed line between the source of feed water and thepump, valve means in said fitting for selectively establishing acommunication betweensaid drain line and said discharge linewhileclosing communication between the feed line and the drain and dischargeline, or for establishing communication between said drain line and saidfeed line While preventing communication between said discharge line andsaid feed and. drain lines.

2. In a locomotive feed Water heating system, a feed Water heater, meansfor supplying steam to said heater, a drain line for withdrawingcondensate from said heater, a source of feed Water, a pump, a feed linehaving a portion leading from said source to said pump and a secondportion leading from said pump to said heater, a valve casing connectedto the drain line and the first mentioned portion, a line leading fromsaid casing to discharge on the track, valve means arranged in saidcasing to selectively permit flow from the drain line to the firstmentioned feed line portion While preventing flow to the discharge linefrom the feed and drain lines or to permit flow to the discharge linefrom the drain line While'preventing flow from the feed line to thedrain and dis charge lines.

3. In a locomotive feed Water heating system, a feed Water heater, meansfor supplying steam to said heater, a drain pipe for withdrawingcondensate from said heater, a source of feed Water, a pump and a feedline connected with said source for supplying feed Water from saidsource to said heater and a valve casing connected With said drain pipe,said valve casing having a pair of outlets, one connected with said feedline and the other to discharge the condensate from said pipe to thetrack, .a pair of valves mounted within said casing for controlling saidoutlets and means for preventing both of said valves from simultaneouslyremaining in open positions.

4. In a locomotive feed water heating system, comprising a-feed Waterheater, means for supplying steam to said heater, a drain line forWithdrawing condensate from said heater, a source of feed Water, fluidpropelling means, a feed line including said propelling means forforcing feed Water from said source to said heater, and a discharge lineassociated with said drain line; the com- .bination of meansinterconnecting said drain line, said discharge line, and said feedline, and valve means in said interconnecting means for selectivelycutting oli communication between the drain and discharge lines Whilepermitting flow from the drainto the feed line, or cutting 0Ecommunication between the drain and feed lines While permitting flowfrom the drain to the discharge line thereby preventing substantial flowof Water from said source through said discharge line at any time.

5. In a locomotive feed water heating system, comprising a feed Waterheater, means for supplying steam to said heater, a drain line forWithdrawing condensate from said heater, a source of feed Water abovethe drain line outlet, fluid propelling means, a feed line includingsaid propelling means for forcing feed water from said source to saidheater and a discharge line associated with said drain line; thecombination of a three- Way fitting interconnecting said drain line,discharge line, and feed line, valve means in said fitting forselectively cutting off flow to the discharge line from the feed lineWhile permitting flow from the drain line to the discharge line or forpermitting flow to the feed line from the drain line, While preventingflow to the discharge line from the drain and feed lines, and means foractuating said valve means including a spring adapted to prevent saidvalve means from remaining in a position intermediate its limits ofmovement.

6. In a locomotive feed Water heating sys tem, a feed Water heater,means for supplying steam to said heater, a drain pipe for Withdrawingcondensate from said heater, a pump and feed line for supplying feedWater to said heater, a duplex valve connected With said drain pipe,said valve having a pair of outlets one connected With said feed lineand the other to discharge the condensate from said pipe to the track, apair of valves for controlling said outlets, and means including a lostmotion connection for sin'iultaneously actuating both 01 said valves anda spring to prevent said connection from remaining in a positionintermediate its limits.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MALCOLM HARD.

